Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades announced on Wednesday the names of the members of the committee that will investigate vehicle recalls linked to defective Takata airbags.

Speaking in parliament, Vafeades confirmed that former supreme court judge Costas Pamballis will serve as chairman. The other two members are deputy auditor-general Kyriakos Kyriakou and Nicosia bar association president Stephanos Skordis.

The committee will begin its work once Pamballis returns from abroad. The terms of reference will be announced at the first meeting and will cover the period from 2004 to 2025. The aim is to investigate why Cyprus has such a large number of vehicles without EU type approval and why there is no effective system to notify owners about recalls.

Vafeades explained that the inquiry will examine the root causes of the issue, starting from 2004, when Cyprus joined the EU. At that time, vehicles were categorised as either having EU type approval or lacking it.

“We need to understand why so many vehicles without EU approval have been imported, under what regulations, and whether the process was carried out correctly or not,” he said.

“This has resulted in a situation where owners do not know whether their vehicles are subject to a recall because the notification chain has broken down.”

The cabinet has requested updates on the issue so corrective measures can be implemented.

When asked about the 57 EU warnings issued since 2019, Vafeades stressed that manufacturers are responsible for issuing recalls, and this duty is passed on to distributors, who must inform vehicle owners.
“The Road Transport Department is not responsible for informing owners directly,” he said.

“Its role is to supervise the process and ensure that distributors notify owners and that the recall is carried out.”

The committee will investigate whether distributors, importers, and the road transport department have fulfilled their legal responsibilities under the law.

Vafeades was also asked about allegations from MP Costas Costa, who claimed that companies had received funds for repairs but had not replaced defective parts. The minister stated that this issue would not be part of the committee’s investigation. However, he urged anyone with evidence to report it to the police, as such actions would be a criminal offence.

The investigation aims to clarify whether the road transport department has properly supervised the recall process and enforced compliance.

“The key question is whether the department has fulfilled its oversight duties as expected,” Vafeades said.
“The committee will determine this based on legal requirements.”